The Stockton Police Department is concerned about an increase in attacks on officers after two of its patrol cars were damaged by rocks and bottles thrown by a group of people participating in a car sideshow, police said Thursday.

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Stockton police officers said they were attacked Wednesday evening in the 4500 block of North Pershing Avenue as they responded to what is known as a sideshow -- an illegal, informal gathering of cars that perform stunts.

Police across Northern California have blamed the exhibitions for traffic accidents and crimes.

“This is the biggest sideshow I’ve seen in Stockton," Stockton resident Ruymonty Alford said. "Usually there are a lot of cars here on Friday and Saturday nights."

When Stockton officers tried to break up the large sideshow in a parking lot, they came under attack. Some people threw rocks at the officers' vehicles as they drove in, police said.

Rocks smashed the windshields of two patrol cars. Each vehicle had two officers inside, according to officials.

“When you take a rock unexpectedly, it’s fortunate (the) driver and passenger did not get injured,” Officer Joe Silva said.

Stockton police said there has been an increase in officer attacks across the state and the nation.

“These unprovoked attacks on law enforcement are very disheartening," Silva said. "And when you have an officer trying to do their job and they get attacked, it concerns us at the police department."

No officers were injured in the rock-throwing incident, but Stockton police chief Eric Jones is aware that things could become worse.

“I'm concerned for officer safety,” Jones said.

Jones said the incident would be discussed, along with police and community relations, at a forum Thursday evening. And it certainly was, with dozens of people attending the event, aimed at improving conditions.

“We want to improve communication, and (there is a) need to increase police trust within the community,”Jones said.

“We have a dangerous job to do, and we are here to help,” Silva said.

Jones said the department is in discussions with the attorney general and the Department of Justice to examine police officer attacks.

"Everybody wants to go home at night, but just because you want to go home at night doesn't mean somebody has to die," said Bobby Bivens, the Stockton NAACP president, emphasizing the need to reduce officer-involved shootings.

"I think you just have to be fair with everybody across the board. No matter what color you are, you got to be fair," said longtime Stockton resident and teacher Darlene Bonner.

KCRA 3's Claire Doan contributed to this report.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Stockton Police Department at 209-946-0600.